Hey all,
I am looking at a slick as a daily and primary vehicle. In light of that, I figure on finding a nice 6 cyl model to save some numbers. But, while I hear a whole lot of praise of the 300, What about the earlier 60's sixes???

I found some with the 240, and the 232(is that right??), how do these motors do in terms of low end and highway ability (properly geared of course)? I'd hope to get a 65-66, but there sure are some nice 61-64 around here right now. I think I could live with the straight axle though.

Thanks guys in advance!

 

In my opinion these trucks and engines were never designed to go 70+ on major highways and give fuel economy. They were work trucks....
I have the 223 and have put some effort into it. Clifford set up intake and headers, 2 barrell Weber, reground cam, port match and cc'd heads, bigger valves, .080 overbore etc etc (engine pics in the album). I did it because I'm tired of seeing the same old v-8's in every truck. Having said that I recognize that I will never make the power or have the fuel efficiency or parts availability that the v-8's enjoy. I don't care. Buts that's just me. You can make some serious power with the 300 and parts are available. Or you can very easily swap in a V8 and have what you want. Wander around this site and read the opinions and then make up your mind..... Good luck and have fun.....

 

Thanks for the reply! I like the sixes too, everyone and their sister has a v8 anymore. I'm not looking for a powerhouse, not planning to tow much or anything, I want a killer driver, that I can enjoy life in the slow lane with. It suits me just fine the old sixes don't like 70 or better, cause I hardly ever find myself over 55 even in newer rigs. 60 is pretty much my top speed.

I hear satisfactory mpg's coming from most or all 300 operators, but how's the 240 do? Looking for mid to upper teens, and capability to cruise 55/60 with road gearing in the axle, and/or a potential overdrive.

Thank ya!

 

i'm in just about the same boat- tinkering with the idea of making my '65 a bigger player in my daily driving.

i think the 240 would do fine as well.
if you're planning on a daily driver- make sure the model of truck you get will accept whatever safety features you feel are necessary.

for me, that's seatbelts, at the very least. possibly disc brakes.

with that said- the interstate is not part of my daily commute. if it was, i don't think i'd be planning on using the '65.

 

Yep,

No interstate commute for me, no real traffic in the commute either. It'd be a primary, so interstate travel will happen, but I don't need to go fast on the interstate, the only person who cares about speeds the fiance, and if she wants to get there fast I reckon she'd be driving.

Safety? Well, I think that's good to go. Lap belts, working brakes, and a steering wheel are all the safety I deem needed as equipment. It's the driver that makes a vehicle safe, not strictly equipment. A wreckless driver could die just as easily in a honda civic than a bump or slick imo. Just the same, a cautious driver can be safe in a slick; and I think is more likely to be, the vehicle has greater limitations, and is not a happy thing if you do wreck, so caution is always present.

240 it may be then. I'd rather have a 240 i6 for my purposes than a FE I think, if I could find more mpg info on the y block I'd be interested, but the FE is a known guzzler, so it'd have to be a primo truck for me to justify owning own.

Thanks guys, I love the encouragement. Sure like the old technology a lot, feel much more comfortable in these trucks than anything else, more at home for me I guess. I like my vehicles to have as much character as myself, and the old ones come close!

 

I have two '66 4x4s, one with the 300 and the other with a 352 v8. The low gearing of 4.56 in the rear of these trucks is the limiting factor for me on top speed. But, the 352 can push the one truck down the road faster (60-65 MPH is pushing it) than the 300 (55 -60) at normal cruising revolutions. I do really like the 300, though, as it is a smooth, quiet running engine with somewhat better mileage.